During the meeting of the Committee on General Policy, Finance, Budget and Justice of 13 October 2020, the importance of international cooperation in terms of the administrative approach was discussed in the Flemish Parliament. This was prompted by a parliamentary question from the mayor of Kinrooi and also a member of the Flemish Parliament, Jo Brouns.
One of the questions asked was how the Flemish Minister, Zuhal Demir, will focus in the future on improving cross-border cooperation on the administrative approach to organised crime. Mr Brouns explicitly referred to the role which the EURIEC plays in making mayors and policymakers in the border region aware that international cooperation is also necessary in the administrative approach. In addition, the final objective was also discussed, namely making it possible to take real joint action against criminals.
The Minister acknowledged the need for more international cooperation, but recognised that major steps still need to be taken at a purely Flemish/Belgian level. Work is already underway on a Flemish legal framework for the exchange of information within a working group on organised crime. Annemie De Boye, a member of the EURIEC steering group, is also taking part in this working group in order to ensure that, when developing a legal framework, attention is also paid to the international exchange of information. Finally, it is also possible that the international exchange of information regarding the administrative approach will be discussed at the Dutch-Flemish summit on 4 November 2020.
The question asked by Jo Brouns and the comprehensive answer given by Flemish Minister Zuhal Demir can be viewed via the following link: https://www.vlaamsparlement.be/commissies/commissievergaderingen/1424447/verslag/1431585